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NATIONAL FLAG & OTHER NATIONAL SYMBOLS
- National Flag
- Coat Of Arms
- National Flower
- National Bird
NATIONAL FLAG
The National flag of St. Kitts & Nevis features green for our fertile lands,
yellow for our year-round sunshine, black for our African heritage, and red for
our struggle from slavery through colonialism to independence. It also displays
two white stars on a black diagonal bar, symbols of hope and liberty.
COAT OF ARMS
The center of the coat of arms is dominated by a shield at the base
of which is a lighter in full sail, A red chevron is highlighted
by two poinciana flowers. At the top of the shield is the head of
a Carib, supported by the fleur-de-lis and a rose. These symbols
represent the early inhabitants of the islands, and the influences
of the French and English.
NATIONAL FLOWER
The national flower is the poinciana or flamboyant, named after Monsieur de Poincy,
the first French Governor of St. Kitts, who is said to have introduced it to the region.
Its scientific name is Delonix Regia and it is said to have originated in Madagascar.
The flamboyant is one of the most striking trees of the tropics, with its
umbrella-shaped crown, and its compound deciduous leaves, and red and yellow
scalloped flowers followed by long, black seedpods. It blooms from May to August.
NATIONAL BIRD
The national bird is the brown pelican, Pelecanus Occidentalis. In its youth,
it is brown on the head, neck and upper parts of the body, and mostly white below.
As it matures, the majority of the body becomes dark brown while the upper part of
the head turns white. During the postnuptial molt the adult's neck turns white.
The neck and head are not extended during flight. Brown pelicans are sometimes solitary
feeders but may also be found in small flocks as they feed on schools of fish near the
surface of the sea. They can be found throughout the West Indies and in the sub-tropic
regions of the Americas. They nest in colonies along the coast in low trees and in bushes.
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